2024 Emerging Leaders Development Series (ELDS)

From September to December 2024, AGC MA will be hosting its 4th Emerging Leaders Development Series (ELDS) with a Graduation Ceremony to be held in January 2025. This program is designed to build future leaders in the construction industry. The ELDS provides 10 modules of construction-focused business, communication and leadership seminars for mid-level, superintendents and project managers with high advancement potential.

Importantly, the ELDS is specifically intended to provide companies with the opportunity to invest in employees who are traditionally underrepresented in middle and senior management roles.

The ELDS is a structured program starting with a four-hour DISC Assessment session followed by eight (8) 2 hour sessions and one (1) half day morning session delivered over the course of four (4) months. Each session will be taught by one or more senior managers of an AGC MA Member Firm providing industry expertise and access to role models. The ELDS will include multiple networking opportunities including between participants, instructors, and you, the company sponsors. The purpose of these events is to develop a network to support the participants throughout their careers.


Important Dates:
Application Open – 6/17/2024
Application Closes – 8/9/2024
Application Finalist – 8/16/2024
Meet & Greet – Virtual Meeting – 8/28/2024 @12pm

Sponsor Attendance Required for the following dates:
Meet & Greet - Virtual Meeting – 8/28/2024 @12pm
Networking Event – In Person – 10/02/2024
Graduation – In Person – 1/15/2025

Emerging Leaders Development Series (ELDS) Program Schedule

August 28, 2024 – 12:00-1:00PM: Virtual Meet & Greet - Expecations and Future Classes
Location: Zoom (Link TBD)

September 4, 2024 – 8:00AM-12:00PM: DISC Assessment & Team Building
Location: AGC MA Office, 888 Worcester St., Suite 40, Wellesley, MA, 02482
                                            
Featuring: Krysta Van Ranst (Founder; Building PPL)
Understanding your DISC profile and the profile of others can help shape how you manage by recognizing how to work best and motivate those with different styles. In this workshop, you will learn how to apply your understanding of different DISC profiles and your knowledge of our company culture to your management approach. 

September 18, 2023 – 8-10:00AM: Conflict Resolution & Difficult Conversations 
Location: AGC MA Office - 888 Worcester St., Suite 40, Wellesley, MA, 02482
                      
Featuring: Ed Sople (Chief Operating Officer; Dellbrook/JKS) & Cassandra McKenzie (AVP Real Estate & Capital Projects; Northeastern University)
Conflicts are inevitable in both personal and professional life, but how we manage them can determine their outcomes. This session will focus on the skills and strategies necessary to navigate conflicts effectively while also collaborating and building stronger relationships in adverse scenarios. 

September 23, 2024 – 8:00-10:00AM: Building Relationships, Management and Effective Communication (Leadership)
Location: Shawmut Design & Construction - 560 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA, 02118
   
Featuring: Eudad Gonzalez (Vice President & Operations Manager; Turner Construction-Special Projects Division) & Michelle LeFluer (Head of Talent Management; Shawmut Design & Construction)
Understanding how to communicate is critical in today's economy, and dealing with employees, supervisors, clients, subcontractors, and architects all takes different skill sets. This session teaches effective management and communication skills for dealing with all the constituents on a construction project. We will address skills and strategies to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact in any situation.

October 9, 2023 – 2:00-5:00PM: Networking & Business Development 
Location: AGC MA Office, 888 Worcester St., Suite 40, Wellesley, MA 02482
     
Featuring: Carolyn Campot (VP of Marketing & Client Development; Bond Building) & Jeff Cammuso (Director - Business Development; Shawmut Design & Construction)
Networking is the cornerstone of business success, enabling you to forge valuable connections, explore opportunities and drive growth for you and your companies. This session will discuss concrete strategies for creating and expanding your network of meaningful connections. 

October 16, 2024 – 8:00-10:00AM: The Business of Construction I
Location: AGC MA Office - 888 Worcester St., Suite 40, Wellesley, MA, 02482
 
Featuring: John McLaughlin (President; Sullivan & McLaughlin) & Kris Leonard(Vice President of Preconstruction; Elaine Construction)
A private hospital project is quite different from a public water treatment plant. This session will focus on the business aspects needed in a successful construction business, including an understanding of the types of clients and projects your company caters to, developing your team and how to best utilize them, and understanding the structure and culture of your company.

October 30, 2024 - 8:00-10:00AM: The Business of Construction II (Technical and Leadership)
Location: Bond Brothers - 10 Cabot Road, Suite 300 Medford, MA 02155
  
Featuring: Sharon Jozokos (Vice President-Healthcare Sector; Columbia Construction) & Frank Hayes (President; Bond Building)
This session will focus on the business aspects needed in a successful construction business, including the profit drivers, primary risks, and steps taken to maximize success.

November 13, 2024 - 8:00-10:00AM: GC & Owner Risk Management, Contracts, & Construction Law
Location: Commodore Builders - 404 Wyman St. #400, Waltham, MA 02451
 
Featuring: Ken Rubinstein (Co-Chair, Construction Law Group; Preti Flaherty) & Michael Roche (General Counsel; Commodore Builders)
This session will discuss the process of negotiating the prime contract. The discussion will include the pros and cons of the different project delivery methods, along with the key risk factors that Contractors should look to address in the prime contract.

November 20, 2024 - 2:00-5:00PM: Negotiations Skills
Location: Columbia - 100 Riverpark Dr., North Reading, MA 01864
 
Featuring: Shaun Lover (President; Columbia) & Christy Murphy (Project Executive; The Vertex Companies)
Negotiation is an essential part of business, whether in securing new business or dealing with conflict on a project. This session will help you become a better negotiator by understanding the process, pricing, risk, key issues to achieve a win-win outcome.

December 4, 2024 - 8:00-10:00AM: GC & Trade Partner Risk Management, Contracts, & Scope - NEW
Location: Consigli Construction Company - 313 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210
 
Featuring: Tom Steeves (President; T.J. McCartney Inc.) & Peter Capone (Director of Purchasing; Consigli Construction)
This session will discuss the negotiation of the subcontract, including key provisions in most standard subcontracts and how these provisions operate to protect the contractor, and how to review and address the scope language as  Trade Partner.

December 18, 2024 - 8:00AM-12:00PM: High Impact Communications Skills
Location: AGC MA Office, 888 Worcester St., Suite 40, Wellesley, MA, 02482
Participants will learn techniques to project a more confident presence, whether communicating one-on-one, facilitating a meeting, or delivering a presentation.

January 9, 2025: Graduation!
Location: Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Waltham
Alumini, Sponsors, participants all invited!